We have additional resources on entrepreneurship, workforce development, access to education, and foreign-trained professionals in the Integration Institute section.

We do our best to keep these up to date. If you find any outdated materials or broken links, or you any questions, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!

Facts about immigrants & refugees

Scores of reports and factsheets about immigrants are published every year, mainly at the national level, but also some at the state and local levels. This page highlights key resources that we find particularly useful and cite in our own work; in the future, we expect to present a collection of MIRA-produced factsheets as well.

If you have any comments or would like to suggest an additional resource to include here, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

REAL ID and Mass. driver’s licenses: March 2018 update

In 2016 Massachusetts passed legislation to implement REAL ID, a federal standard adopted by Congress in 2005. Under the new law, state residents will have two options for their driver’s license or ID card: a REAL ID-compliant one, or a standard Massachusetts state license. The new system is effective on March 26, 2018.

If you already have a valid, unexpired Mass. driver’s license or ID on March 26, it will still be valid until its expiration date.

The changes affect everyone, but are particularly important for non-citizens to understand.

Key differences between a REAL ID and a standard license:

The REAL ID licenses will be marked “valid for federal identification purposes” with a gold star in the upper right-hand corner.

If you want a REAL ID license or ID, you must apply in person, whereas five-year standard licenses can be renewed completely online in most cases.

Starting in October 2020, only licenses/IDs that are REAL ID-compliant will be accepted as identification at airport security checkpoints. You will NOT be able to board an airplane using a standard Mass. license or ID.

You will still be able to use a valid passport (from any country), an EAD card, a permanent resident card (green card), or any of the other documents listed to board flights or as ID to enter a federal building.

Until October 2020, your standard license or ID can still be used to board an airplane; in federal buildings where ID is required, you already need REAL ID or one of the other federally accepted documents listed above.

Emergency plans for families

Parents whose immigration status is uncertain are encouraged to make emergency plans for the care and custody of their children in the event of a sudden detention by immigration officials and possible deportation. There are several different legal options, and the right choice for each family will depend on the specific circumstances. For example, it matters whether you have relatives with legal status who can help you, and where they live. You’ll also want to consider your child’s needs (e.g. medical concerns).

If your children might need to move abroad in the event of a deportation in the family, make sure they have a passport! They may be eligible for a U.S. passport, but also consider getting them a passport from your country of birth; the Mexican and Salvadoran consulates, for example, have actively encouraged their citizens to do this. Here is a list of consulates in Boston.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

KEY THINGS TO KNOW (updated Sept. 1, 2018):

On Sept. 5, 2018, it will be a year since the Trump administration has announced it would end DACA. For those who already have DACA, your work permit and deferred action will continue until their expiration date, and until further notice, due to several court orders (see below), you can renew your DACA for another two years.

Individual circumstances will vary, but in general, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND RENEWING if you can. DACA enables you to work legally, and in Massachusetts, it’s also decisive if you want a driver’s license or in-state tuition at public colleges. MIRA can help you with the paperwork if needed; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. United We Dream’s RenewMyDACA.com has lots of information to help you. MIRA doesn’t offer financial aid to cover the $495 fee, but GoFundMe has a special program to help Dreamers fund themselves. We may also be able to connect you with Mass.-based supporters; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Temporary Protected Status

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian designation made by the President of the United States for the benefit of people who could not safely return to their countries due to armed conflict, a natural disaster, an epidemic, or other extraordinary conditions.

Once a country has been designated for TPS, eligible nationals of that country have a limited time to apply for the status. The TPS designation allows beneficiaries to receive work authorization and have a Social security number, making them eligible for a driver’s license and other benefits. TPS designation can be valid for six, 12, or 18 months – depending on what the administration wishes to do in a particular case – and can be renewed an unlimited number of times. Every time a designation is renewed, those with TPS status must re-register and might also need to renew their work authorization.